acres are already being plowed, in addition to the 1,495 acres now being cultivated.

Superintendent Shiels in his résumé accorded Principal J. B. Lillard of Gardena Agricultural High School, and Supervisor Clayton F. Palmer, supervisor of agriculture, high praise for their administration of the food and garden situation and announced a great supplementary labor accomplished by students in helping the home garden committee, which is promoting the general garden campaign.

RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED AT THE PHILADELPHIA AND ROCK HILL RURAL CONFERENCES

The following resolutions were adopted at the Philadelphia and Rock Hill conferences recently held in a study of the problems of rural education and rural life:

An academic term of not less than 160 days in every rural school community. A sufficient number of teachers, adequately prepared for their work. Consolidation of rural schools where practicable. Teachers', home and demonstration farm of five or more acres as a part of the school property. An all-year school adapted to local conditions. A country library with branch libraries at the centres of population, the public school to be used as distributing centres. Community organization with schools as intellectual, industrial, educational and social centre. High school education for all country boys and girls without severing ties in obtaining their educations. Such readjustment and reformation of the courses of

study in elementary and secondary rural schools as will adapt them to the needs of rural life.

The expenses of necessary transportation of pupils to consolidated schools should be borne by the State. Where consolidation is impracticable the one-teacher school is recognized as one of the most serious and difficult problems in rural education. Therefore, we recommend that where necessary the State supplement the salaries of these teachers to the extent that efficient teachers may be supplied for all these schools; (2) that the building, equipment, and sanitary conditions be improved to meet adequately the needs of this type of school; (3) that the State further aid these local communities in the employment of a traveling, helping teacher whose duties restricted to a limited area and number of teachers shall be to further train these teachers while in service and to assist them in adapting the course of study to local conditions.

The establishment of departments of Rural Education for the special professional training of teachers for rural schools in universities, colleges, normal schools and other specialized agencies, and the continuance of teachertraining departments in high schools until such time as the departments of rural education of these normal schools, colleges, universities and other specialized agencies shall be able to furnish an adequate supply of professionally trained teachers for the rural schools. These teachers should have as a prerequisite a minimum of scholastic preparation equal to four years high school training. The heads of departments in rural education in institutions carrying rural teachers should be people who have had adequate training and practical experience in rural work.

THE LITERARY HISTORY OF SPANISH AMERICA. By Alfred Coester, Ph.D. New York: The Macmillan Company. Cloth. 510 pages. Price, $2.50.

This ambitious book is the first attempt at a systematic history in English of Spanish American literature. It would be unusual if there were not flaws of some slight importance in what is a pioneer work. The noteworthy thing, however, is that Dr. Coester has succeeded in giving a comprehensive view of the whole field of Spanish American literature, and has digested a vast mass of material in such a way as to give a clear picture of the salient features of each of the countries concerned. Needless to say, the author devotes considerable attention to the history of the Latin American republics and to their economic and political developments. The book is, therefore, of interest not only to the student of literature but also to the man of affairs who wishes to gain an insight into the ideals and dominant characteristics of our fellow-Americans to the south. The early chapters take up in order the development of literature in the colonial period and in the period of revolutionary activity. Succeeding chapters discuss each of the various republics in turn; this is the most convenient division, although it leads to somewhat arbitrary distinctions, as in the case of writers whose lives were spent in two or more of the countries concerned. The method has the advantage, however, of enabling the author to synthesize the various national literatures in a striking way. As might be expected, Argentina, Chile and Cuba receive most attention, but there are also chapters devoted to Uruguay, Peru and Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico and Central America, as well as an interesting chapter on the modernista movement in all the countries.

A list of the men discussed would be a mere catalog. Suffice it to say that all the great authors and the great majority of the minor ones receive adequate attention. An interesting feature of the book is the large number of digests of works discussed, as well as a number of translations of noteworthy poems. The reader who knows no Spanish can thus obtain a fairly concrete idea of the literary output of the Span

cans,

ish American world. The author's wide knowledge and apparent sympathy and understanding of the Latin American spirit qualify him for his task. Departing from the traditional provincialism of Amerihe is willing to admit the existence of other and important civilizations in this hemisphere, and is not averse to calling citizens of the United States North Americans, a concession to Spanish American feelings in this respect which might well be imitated. The book is really absorbing reading, and once started one finds it hard to lay it down. It will do a great deal towards cementing the good feeling existing between the sister republics of the western hemisphere and may well be commended to those unenlightened Americans who think the sun rises and sets north of the Rio Grande. It is to be hoped that the work will receive wide reading and a sympathetic hearing. Dr. Coester deserves every honor for carrying out an ambitious undertaking requiring prodigious labor and painstaking care.

The book is marred, however, by certain annoying slips in style such as the beginning of sentences with "and" and "but" and by extremely careless proofreading. Besides many errors in spelling such as Phillip (pages 6, 7, 8, 9), Aristo (page 7), Araucania (page 205), Romantic (page 477), Narcisco (page 489), and others, the Spanish accent is misused or omitted with reprehensible carelessness. Examples are numerous and among others occur on pages 114, 120, 370, 382, 389, 429, 477, 478, 479, 480 and 486. In some cases the circumflex accent has been erroneously used for the Spanish (acute) accent. The book includes a useful bibliography and an index of names. It is to be hoped that the enterprising author and publishers will find their efforts attended by the success that they merit.

A BUSINESS SPELLER. By Mary G. Brinkworth. Boston, New York, Chicago: Ginn & Co. Price, 25

cents.

It is exceedingly interesting, not to say amazing, to see what a wealth of genius and mastery is put into the making of spelling books when we recall how deep all spelling books were buried, expertly and theoretically, a

few years ago. There was practically no specialist in education who did not put a shovelful of earth upon the grave of the spelling book, and now there is scarcely a specialist in education who is not an author or joint author of a spelling book. It is with no little satisfaction that we recall the fact that we always regarded the antispelling book view as a mirage and not a vision.

Real genius and mastery are now devoted to spelling book making and never more than in the making of the Brinkworth "Business Speller."

A characteristic vocabulary has now become an essential part of all business communications. The aim is to provide the important words that are most commonly used in business correspondence. It is the outgrowth of several years of practical experience in teaching commercial subjects. At the beginning the author secured from hundreds of firms, in all lines of business, the different kinds and styles of letters which they regularly employ. From these letters the vocabulary, for the most part, was selected. The natural sequence of business correspondence, from the standpoint of the pupil, has been kept in mind. There are: Words used in letters of application; of recommendation; of introduction; of inclosure; in sales letters; in order letters; in letters of complaint; in letters of adjustment; in dunning letters. The special lists have been extensively supplemented by general lists, which contain all the important words that are likely to be used in any ordinary business correspondence.

THE NEW REED AND KELLOGG LESSONS IN ENGLISH, BOOK II. By Arthur Lee. New York, Chicago: Charles E. Merrill Company. 320 pp. Price, 68 cents.

Reed and Kellogg's Grammars maintained their leadership despite the attacks of mere theorists, because they were so easily used that any teacher could get abundant and accurate results.

The book that gets results and not the book of the doctrinaire is the book for the schools. The publishers have done well to bring out a new two-book series with all the result-getting features of the famous Reed and Kellogg books, enlivened and improved by the introduction of new illustrative material, such as the spirit of the day enjoys. Mr. Lee meets the modern conditions without sacrificing any of the "get-there" elements of the Reed and Kellogg books. It is a great combination admirably worked out in detail.

ELEMENTS OF GERMAN GRAMMAR FOR REVIEW. By M. H. Haertel, assistant professor of German, and G. C. Cast, instructor in German, in the University of Wisconsin. Boston: D. C. Heath & Co. Cloth. 101 pp. Price, 50 cents.

According to the preface, this volume is not intended to be a complete German grammar, or to replace the many excellent grammars now on the market. Its object is to serve as a guide in reviewing the grammar during the second year, with emphasis upon the essentials. It is a compact digest of the principles of German grammar, preceded by a highly useful introduction on grammatical terms which relieves the teacher of the always-necessary and time-wasting task of teaching the grammatical foundations of the pupil's own language. Only the main rules are stressed, all material not of first importance being printed in small type or placed in the notes. A feature unusual to handbooks of this kind is the inclusion of a long series of questions and suggestions for exercises, classified by subjects, which should be of great assistance in systematic reviewing. An index is included. The editors have done much to save labor formerly necessarily done by the individual teacher.

THE OFFENDER AND HIS RELATIONS TO LAW AND SOCIETY. By Burdette G. Lewis, Commissioner on Correction, City of New York. Harper's Modern Science Series. New York: Harper & Brothers. Cloth. Price, $2.

This book, by the commissioner of the largest Department of Correction in the world, is the latest word in theory and practice of dealing with the wayward, the delinquents, and criminals. No phase of the subject of correcting wrong doing and wrong doers, juvenile, amateur, expert, and depraved, is lacking.

THE HOME AND ITS MANAGEMENT. By Mabel Hyde Kittredge. New York: The Century Company. Illustrated. 385 pp. Price, $1.50.

This book has the latest word on its very important

subject. It includes advice on inexpensive furnishing, on practical marketing, wise division of moderate incomes, and best methods in cooking. It includes also 300 economical receipts.

CRABB'S ENGLISH SYNONYMES. By George Crabb. Revised edition. With an Introduction by John H. Finley. New York: Harper & Brothers. Cloth. 769 pp. Price, $1.25, net.

This revision of "Crabb's Synonymes" is the Centennial Edition, revised and enlarged by the addition of modern terms and definitions, arranged alphabetically with complete cross references throughout. The entire body of the original work is retained and supplemented by a larger number of words and their applications that have grown into the language with recent years. Aside from the alphabetical arrangement, the ease with which words are located in this digest is amplified by the copious cross references throughout the body of the work. The use to which a book of synonyms may be put without danger is clearly pointed out by Dr. Finley, Commissioner of Education of New York State, in his delightful introduction; and he points out the kinship between a poverty of words and poverty of thought. The type and arrangement of this edition are admirable.

HOUSEHOLD ORGANIZATION FOR WAR SERVICE. By Thetta Quay Franks. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. Board covers. 93 PP. Price, $1. Taking President Wilson's words, "America expects every woman to do her duty," as her text, the author of "Household Organization for War Service" weaves easily the story of what that duty is. The common failure of American women to do their household duty forms the larger part of the first half of the book. The three big ways in which women may save money, she says, are by the practical use of a balanced ration, by handling money on business principles and by spending their incomes on the budget plan. These three points are well explained. The author writes gracefully; easily any housewife can read the book to the end, gathering the lesson of every page. It is in no way a text; rather it is a simple, forceful talk of an experienced, successful housewife with eager, less successful sisters. There is an appendix bibliography of helpful books for the household.

LETTERS FROM MANY PENS. A Collection of Letters chosen by Margaret Coult. New York: The Macmillan Company. Cloth. 374 pp. Price, 25 cents. Here is a wealth of great reading in 150 letters by great men and women of the world about home matters, of young people to their elders, grown people to children, to strangers, on stirring events, sketches from many lands, about people and books, counsel and advice and many other conditions of life.

A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS. By Alice E. Bail. Fifty-six Colored Plates, by Robert Bruce Horsfall. Published by the author, 1961 Ford Drive, Cleveland. Price, $3.

One of the most beautiful of bird books, with fifty-six full-page colored pictures of birds and one of the most brilliant collections of verses about birds that we have seen. No one can be disappointed in the book whether it is purchased for the home, for gift or for school. In addition to charming verse and lovely pictures Miss Ball has written an attractive description of each bird.

2: Essex County, Mass., Teachers Association. Tremont Temple, Boston. Superintendent William F. Eldredge, Rockport, president; John H. Bosshart, Salem, secretary.

8-10: Kansas State Teachers' Association. Topeka W. H. Johnson, Lawrence, president; F. L. Pinet, Topeka, secretary.

12-16: Newcastle County Teachers Institute, A. I. Dupont High School. Kent and Sussex Counties, at MilInstitute ford. State for Colored Teachers at Milford. Charles A. Wagner, State Commissioner of Education, Dover, Delaware, chairman committee on arrangements.

15-17: Missouri State Teachers' Association. Kansas City. President, Ira Richardson, Maryville; secretarytreasurer, E. M. Carter, Columbia. 15-17: Joint meeting: New England Association of School Superintendents, Massachusetts Superintendents Association, American Institute Instruction Massachusetts Teachers Association. Boston.

and

of

Educational Conference. Richmond. State Teachers' Association, William C. Blakey, Richmond, secretary; State Cooperative Education Association, J. H. Montgomery, Richmond, secretary; Association of Division Super

31-November

Association,

Education 2: Colorado Southern Division, Pitts, Jr., Pueblo,

Pueblo. Lemuel
secretary.

31-November 2: North

cational

Dakota EduE. Association. Bismarck.

R. Edwards, Jamestown, president; W. E. Parsons, Bismarck, secretary.

intendents, Superintendent F. B.

Fitzpatrick, Bristol, secretary; Association of Trustees, M. C. McGhee, secretary.

S.

26-28: New York State Teachers' Association. Syracuse. Herbert Weet, Rochester, N. Y., president. 26-28: Wyoming State Teachers' Association. Buffalo, Wyo.

26-28: Maryland State Teachers' Association Baltimore City. Sydney 9. Handy, president; Hugh W. Caldwell, Elkton, secretary.

26-28: Montana State Teachers' Association. Helena. Dr. H. H. Swain, Helena, secretary. State 29-December 1: North Carolina Teachers' Assembly. Charlotte. T. Allen, Salisbury, president; president; E. E. Sams, Raleigh, retary.

Moines. Eva

intendent O.

secretary.

sec

29-December 1: Texas State Teachers' Association. Waco. Miss Annie Webb Blanton, Denton, president; R. T. Ellis, Forth Worth, secretary.

DECEMBER.

7-8: New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Springfield, Mass. Professor Walter Ballou Jacobs, Brown University, secretary.

26-30: Florida Educational Association, Daytona. Miss Agnes Ellen Harris, State College for Women, TallahasR. see, president; Hon. L. Turner, Inverness, secretary.

27-29: Associated Academic Principals of New York State. Syracuse. Charles W. Lewis, Gouverneur, N. Y., president.

NEW ENGLAND STATES.

MASSACHUSETTS.

CAMBRIDGE. Henry Moore Bates, author of many law books and since 1910 dean of the University of Michigan Law School, will come to Cambridge in the fall as professor of law in the Harvard Law School.

NEWTON. Newton will be one of the first cities to answer President Wilson's call for the keeping open of vocational schools during the summer in order to train young men for special work in the army, navy, or shipbuilding. A group of school heads has gone to Washington to confer and work out details.

Newton teachers are on a twelvemonth salary basis, and consequently those who volunteer to teach during the extra period will sacrifice their summer holidays. If any of the staff do not respond to the call it means